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It’s that time of year! The fall season is coming to an end and it is finally cooling down here in Austin, Texas. I love the cool weather as long as it doesn’t ice or snow. (Typical Texan!) I decided to cook up some soup to go along with the amazing weather we have had recently. Plus, we need to get back to our regular eating habits. I have not been very good at my healthy lifestyle with such a busy schedule the past two weeks. Time to get back to it! No excuses!!

This recipe is very big because everything is big in Texas! It is perfect for a large family or a very hungry husband like mine. The recipe calls for a rotisserie chicken. The easiest, cheapest and less time-consuming option is to buy a cooked rotisserie chicken at your local grocery store. The best, biggest and cheapest we have found is at Costco. Sprouts Farmers Market has some good options as well. Our other grocery store is HEB. Theirs are quite good but are more expensive than the rotisserie chicken at Costco.

Here is the recipe! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

You can cook the soup in a crock-pot for 2 hours or just cook on the stove on high heat in a large pot. You can limit the Serrano peppers and use half the chipotle peppers if you don’t like as much spice in your life. We all need some spice in our lives!

In the large pot over the stove (or the crock-pot) add the chicken stock, shredded chicken, sautéed onion and pepper mix, tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, ground pepper and black beans. Heat on medium-high until the soup begins to boil. Set the temp to low-medium and place a lid on the pot. Allow the soup to soak in all the flavors for about 10-15 minutes. If you use a crock-pot, it should be set on high for about 2 hours.

Serve in a bowl and top with avocado, Mexican blend cheese, tortilla strips (or crushed tortilla chips), cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

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Man I have been gone way too long!! The reason is that I am getting married in about 7 weeks. Eeeek! I know! My fiancé and I are extremely excited!

These past few months have been quite a journey especially health wise. I got a trainer at X-Train, lost weight, gained muscle and started sculpting my body. It was easy at first but it’s been tough recently. I had to give up running due to some hip issues and now I am attending weekly physical therapy sessions. My latest addiction is hot yoga at Black Swan Yoga. I have tried it before but never stuck to it until I realized it was really improving my physique and hips issues. Not only that but it is really relaxing me with all the recent events (ahem wedding stuff and people who cause unnecessary drama).

Party of my journey has been my eating habits. I started eating a lot more and a lot cleaner. My daily protein intake has increased. The current protein brand I love is Jay Robb. He makes the cleanest and most delicious whey protein out there. My favorite is the chocolate whey protein. It is a bit pricey but it doesn’t taste like you are eating grass! My cheat meals also became healthier as I could not stomach the same old junk foods. It feels so good to not want or crave things like donuts, cereal, and cupcakes! My big problem has been over snacking and snacking on little sweets. Not like cup cakes or anything but like a lot of fruit (sugar) and candies like Swedish fish (YUM). This all needs to be put to a stop… I’m almost there!

A few things that are helping are the little motivations. My wedding and wedding dress are two major motivating things that are helping me want to get in better shape. Another motivator is having a family. My fiancé and I really want children and pretty soon. I don’t want to have them until I feel like my body is truly ready. I want to still be able to workout while pregnant even though it won’t be the same. I also want to be able to bounce back quicker and get ready for more kids and life. A few inspirations have come from other food bloggers and fitness moms like Danielle Walker from Against All Grain and Maria Kang. I have a list of bloggers I follow but that would take all day to list!

There are quite a few things going on in my head that are helping me on my healthy journey. There will be a lot more in the future that will tag along some intense challenges. I am ready for it all!!

Right now, I am cooking up a bison casserole for dinner. My fiancé will be a very happy camper when he gets home late from work! Yeah! I am going to be one hell of an awesome wife!!

Stay tuned for some amazing new additions that will be happening this summer! My blog will show a huge difference along with other sites.

Share your health journeys with me by commenting below! Let me know what motivates you to be healthier.

I LOVE carbs and pasta! Well, I used to… I literally cooked pasta about 4 times a week, but that was back in college when I was not as health conscious. These past three years have been very adventurous for my fiancé and I. One of the changes we made was trying to eat as healthy as possible without driving our taste buds crazy. We removed a ton of processed foods, started cooking more at home (well I am the cook) and we only eat at local restaurants with healthy choices. Our cheat days also turned into a cheat meal and a cheat snack.

We were already pretty healthy but our digestive systems have been changing the older we got and the more fit we became. We have become sensitive to lactose, wheat and artificial sweeteners. I became bloated 24/7 and was having trouble digesting food even those gluten-free products. I also got bored with my normal workout routine and started subscribing to online videos from Barre3 and signed up with a personal trainer (who is also a friend) at X-Train in Austin, TX. I also track most of my food intake on My Fitness Pal. One of the most important changes we made was looking at nutrition information and ingredient labels in detail. Most people don’t pay attention to that and assume “low-fat” and “low-carb” labels are enough… My health has drastically changed since I am paying closer attention to my diet. I lost some pesky pounds that took me about 4 years to get rid of no matter what I did. My clothing fits better and I even went down a size or two! This is a big deal for someone who is 4ft 10in!! My body is changing and I can see muscles I never knew I had.

We now get discussed by things we used to eat as our cheat meals like pizza, burgers, and some of our favorite brunch meals. 90% of our meals are now made at home and I food prep 1-2 times a week. My fiancé does not really cook unless it’s eggs or oatmeal so he will eat whatever I make. In no way did I force anything on him. He did it all by himself by noticing that he feels much better. His digestive system has improved and he is more sensitive to artificial foods with additives and preservatives. He has decreased his sugar intake and is now very serious when it comes to eating out. I love it!!! He is my best friend and my support machine! Without him, I would probably cave! I make some pretty great food so it’s not like we eat like rabbits. In fact, I can barely eat a salad I make. I am SO picky about veggies and salad dressings. Most veggies are disgusting to me if eaten raw. Oh and I am a BIG fan of sauces, only if they are healthy of course. If I can eat healthy while being picky, anyone can eat healthy and change their lifestyle.

I have some great suggestions for sauces and using alternatives to carbs. One of my favorite kitchen toys is the GEFU Spirelli Spiral Cutter. I discovered it thanks to Pinterest! It was more expensive than I thought but it is amazing! I have not purchased any type of pasta in months since we changed our diet so this was a great buy!

Here is one of my first experiments with the spiral cutter…

This is my version of low-carb Alfredo pasta. I used a zucchini and a yellow squash as the alternative for pasta. You can also use peppers and other veggies that fit in the spiral cutter.
There are various ways to cook the spiral “pasta.” I steamed mine in a pot. You can also try boiling or baking the veggies. I was afraid of the pasta becoming too mushy so steaming it was a better decision. It came out great! This also only took about 10 minutes to make!!

I found this very tasty Alfredo mix at Sprouts for under $2. There are very few ingredients, it is gluten-free, low-carb and low-fat. All you have to add is milk. I would not suggest using soy milk, coconut milk or any flavored milk as you will change the texture and the taste. Butter is an option but not one for me.

Apologies for the awful photo…

Not only was this delicious but my fiancé asked me to make some more! This Alfredo Pasta is now on our “pasta” recipes list.

I hope I inspired at least one person out there to make some changes in their lifestyle. Like my blog, my posts and send me a message. I would love to hear from you! :)

$$ Tip: For the almond flour, use a coffee grinder and grind up almonds.

Mix all ingredients except for the blue berries. Heat a skillet on medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Spoon ¼ c of the batter onto the skillet then spread it a little so it doesn’t stay as a blob. Add the fresh blue berries and lightly press them down into the pancake. Allow the pancake to cook for about 3 minutes then turn it over.

Food prep tip: You can double the batch, make all pancakes and then freeze for later.

When we don’t have time to make lunch or we run out of leftovers , PJs Skinny Organic Burritos are our last resort! These are also low budget!!

These burritos are amazing and low in calories! As you can see in the ingredient and nutrition info pictures below, the ingredients are organic and a great source of protein. If you are looking for a low carb meal this is not for you unless you are very active. Although, the carbs are not completely awful. They mostly come from the tortilla which is also made from organic ingredients.

I personally only eat these when I have no time to cook or I am on the run. My body is not quite to the point where it can use bad carbs (flour and other bread products) for fuel. Most of those bad carbs contribute to unwanted bloating in the midsection and weight gain. Yet, I am talking about my body. My fiancé can eat two of these and he is completely fine. He is a very active man with a very high metabolism…. Lucky him!! I WISH I had his metabolism!!!

Back to the point…. You can find an 8 pack of these awesome burritos at wholesale places like Costco for under $11! The website ( PJs Skinny Organic Burritos ) has a variety of fillings you can choose from as well. I may have to order some for my guy!! If you are currently changing your diet from fast food and other junk, try these babies! You will be full and feel much better afterward compared to how you feel after eating a greasy burger and fries.

Tip: Try the PJ organic burrito with 1/2 an avocado and some of your favorite salsa! That’s how I eat mine! ;)

$$ Tip: Purchase healthy foods like these in bulk. They will be cheaper than buying individual packs at the grocery store. They also last a while in your freezer. You will be stocked up and can’t complain you don’t have anything good or healthy to eat!

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Well it is nice and chilly out in Austin, Texas! This weather is rare here. Most Texans hate the cold but we love it in our home! Our little pup Bobby despises this weather too…

Here is the little booger! He refuses to leave our bed…

This warm weather calls for some delicious and healthy soup! My hubby to be loves soup and he loves my Caldo! For those that are unfamiliar with Caldo must try it! It is a Spanish chicken and veggie soup. I make arroz (Spanish rice) on the side and soak it in my bowl of soup. Hopefully I can write-up a recipe soon! This soup is very easy but it does take some time. I do not recommend frozen or canned ingredients either. This soup must be made fresh! It can be made con pollo (chicken) or de res (with meat).

I love shrimp and I love spice! Why not put them together?
This is one of my favorite dishes. My fiancé is always asking me to make “that chili pepper shrimp stuff” all the time.

The main ingredient is the red chili pepper. You can find it in the jelly section at your local grocery store. I was lucky to find a giant jar for under $10 at Costco!! I highly recommend reading the ingredients to make sure you don’t find any nasty additives.